TO THE EDITOR:I was thinking about Chicago...

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

TO THE EDITOR:

I was thinking about Chicago and I came to a conclusion: Chicago is a city left out. When you read the papers, everything has to do with New York or Los Angeles. I hear stories on the Rodney King trial and Amy Fisher and Joey Buttafuoco. these stories are making national headlines. The only story Chicago made national headlines with was the story of David and Sharon Schoo. What about this city? I mean, we are the third most-populated city in the U.S. and we do have the Sears Tower and, of course, Michael Jordan and the Bulls. So why do I feel our city is left out?

S.M., 13

Chicago

Swear on it

My friends swear a lot, and a couple of friends and I are concerned about the bad language. It scares me when I hear 4th and 5th graders swearing around me. I think it is so rude. With them swearing, it can teach real little kids to swear. Also, it can get you in big trouble! Some kids I know that swear, their parents don't let them use bad language. They think swearing is cool. It is trouble!

Amanda M., 11,

Northwest Side

Wrong side o' town

I am a Cubs fan and I live on the South Side where everyone is a Sox fan. I am constantly being made fun of and I don't know what to do. I think that people should respect other people's rights. I mean, what am I supposed to do - move to the North Side?

M.R., 12

South Side

Lock him up

I think it is unfair that Crime Boy (April 13 Tough News) got released. It was his 57th criminal charge and they let him go. I think he should pay the price for what he has done. Why should everyone else pay the price for what they have done and he doesn't? It really doesn't matter how old you are.

Maria B., 9

Chicago

Take action

In response to your article "Here today, gone tomorrow" (April 13 KidNews), I also believe it is very important to save animals endangered with extinction. This is important because animals have an effect on our world and our environment. In many ways, all animals are dependent on each other. Each species forms a link in a chain connecting the actions of one species to another. It is our responsibility to ensure the continued connection of the chain.

Rachel S.

Skokie

A sure sign

I just want to share something neat. I was that person who wrote about not sending food to Somalia anymore (April 6 Backtalk). So when I saw Beth's letter in Backtalk the following week - disagreeing with me - I got pretty steamed. I'm not a person who takes criticism lightly. I was all set to write some nasty letter back but then I read my horoscope in KidNews. I don't really believe in horoscopes but sometimes they really hit the spot. Mine did. It said: "Share and share alike. But when it comes to opinions, that's a whole other ballgame. Everyone's entitled to their own."

I just want to say thanks for that. Now I can see that if I have my opinion, someone else can have theirs, too.

M.I., 13

Lombard

Healing to the end

In response to Jamie J. (April 20 Backtalk), she obviously has no idea what she is saying. Dr. Kevorkian has made it very clear on several occasions that he does not help anyone to commit suicide unless they are terminally ill - with no chance for recovery. Jamie said that a doctor is not supposed to kill but to heal. I agree with this to a point, if this "healing" means to end a life and the patient is in total agreement.

Colleen O., 14

Chicago

Serious discussion

In response to Amelia H. (April 13 Backtalk), "90210" talks about sex and drugs and the desire to be popular because those are subjects that are always confronting us. It should be discussed somewhere - just these past few weeks, people have been writing about sex education in Backtalk. Even though "90210" has unrealistic characters because the actors are really in their twenties, they do discuss serious subjects that should be listened to.

Maria N., 12

Glen Ellyn

Couch that idea

I think it is dumb to connect the TV to an exercise bike or something else to make the TV turn on (April 13 Tough News). TV is TV, a sitting activity and exercise is exercise. It'd make it hard to watch a show like "Body Electric" or "Basic Training" for one thing. The Control-A-TV doesn't allow for warm-ups or stretches, either, which are very important to exercise. That's another 10 minutes, besides the 15 minutes to run the bike to make the TV turn on.

Phil T., 13

Joliet

Dig that Darius

I liked the article on Darius McCrary (March 16 Features). My favorite part is when you compared Darius to (his character) Eddie on "Family Matters" and when he talks about his little brother and the closeness he feels toward him. I think it's very nice Darius spends time running and playing basketball with his little brother. It seems that Darius is down to earth and unspoiled, except for him new BMW, which he could probably easily afford. He seems a lot like a regular teenager, not like a big star.

Adine N., 12

Chicago

Any ideas?

I have always wanted to do something about pollution but what can I do? There is really never a chance for me to do something. I have a few suggestions, but who can I write them to?

Ashley E., 12

Oak Brook

Divorce bummer

Divorced parents' kids have to choose between parents to live with and which parent to spend holidays with and for how long. Sometimes there is a lot of pressure about which parent to be with. They also have to deal with boyfriends and girlfriends of their parents and the fear that the parent you live with may remarry. Divorced parents' kids often feel it is their own fault their parents split up. Being the only child of divorced parents is not what anyone would want to be.

Eva K.

Northbrook

Find P.O.W.s

P.O.W. and M.I.A. stand for Prisoners of War and Missing in Action. These soldiers once served to protect our country, and we should search for these men and women because they tried to help this failing country. We have no real evidence if they are alive or not. I recently read an article that says we should "close the book" on looking for them. We need to look for them because they have families that care about them and demand answers. As a team, we can make a fundraiser to collect enough money to look for these people.

Greg M., 7th grade

Northbrook

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